Understanding bushfire compliant construction

The catastrophic events of Black Saturday on the 7 February 2009 have resulted in a number of revisions to building codes in Australia. A contributing factor to their implementation is an attempt to ensure the tragic loss of life and property experienced that day is never repeated.

To ensure new homes, alterations and additions are located and constructed with greater bushfire protection, the new Australian Standard AS 3959–2009 Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas now applies in Queensland, Victoria and ACT and will apply nationally in 2010.

Given the extent and the significance of the changes to the Australian Standard it is essential that architects and specifiers are fully informed of the new requirements. To facilitate this education process Carter Holt Harvey Woodproducts Australia (CHH) has recently produced an electronic guide that helps explain the new Standard. (This guide can be downloaded free of charge from www.chhwoodproducts.com.au/bushfire-protection).

This electronic guide also details the extensive range of products offered by CHH that can be used to build Standard complaint floor, wall, deck and roof systems. The guide also demonstrates that wood is still a very viable and cost effective building material to use in parts of Australia that are prone to bushfires. Regardless of where you live, CHH timber products remain the natural solution for you.

One of the benefits of this document being produced in an electronic format is that it allows CHH to quickly update the guide whenever there are subsequent changes to the Standards in the future.

Should you have any technical questions in relation to the guide or CHH’s range of bushfire compliant products please call our Timber Technical Expert on 1800 808 131 or email: Adrian.brincat@chhwoodproducts.com.au.